Cast-off buckle



(No Model.)

' J. A. TRAU-T.

GAST OFF BUCKLE.

No. 480,791. Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

UNITED STATESV PATENT OFFICE.

y JUSTUS A. TRAUT, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

CAST-OFF BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,791, dated August 16, 1892.

Application led May 17, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JUsTUs A. TRAUT, of New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cast-Off Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in suspender-buckles, the objects being to provide an improved cast-off mechanism by means of which the ends may be quickly and easily released, and when united will permit of a lateral swinging movement to accommodate the movement of the wearer or the irregular position of the buttons.

The invention consists in certain novel detailsof construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described, and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis V a plan view of a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar v iew with the parts detached. Fig. 3 is a section longitudinally of the buckle. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the parts detached.

Like letters of reference in the several iigures indicate the same parts.

The buckle proper-z'. c., the portion embracing and engaging the web-in itself forms no part of my present invention, and for convenience I have shown one of that class in which a bandA encircles the web and on one side is provided with a slot a, in which is pivoted a locking-lever B, held in place by lateral extensions or enlargements on the outside and inside of the band, respectively. The end of the lever inside the band is toothed and clamps the web against the back of the band when the lever is turned down into locked position. A little lip or downward projection b may be formed at vthe lower edge of the band to protect the teeth or prevent the web catching thereon while the buckle is being shifted. At the outer end the lockinglever B is tubular or formed into a socket or fiat tubular portion b', as shown in section in Figs. 3 and 4 and in top plan in Figs. 1 and Serial No. 433.330. (No model.)

2, for the reception of the detachable slide E, having the loop e for the suspender end. The tube or socket is relatively thin and wide to lie close to the web and not interfere with overlying garments, and the detachable slide is of course correspondingly shaped.

The main objection to cast-off buckles lies in their eXtreme rigidity, making a portion of the suspender solid as it were and lacking in that element of flexibility or capability to adapt itself to all conditions of application and flexures of the body of the wearer. With a view to overcoming these objections I have in this instance made the connection between the locking -lever and detachable slide a hinged one, the two parts being capable of a lateral swinging movement with relation to each other. This I accomplish by forming an inwardly-extending flange F on the socket or tube circular or segmental in the direction of its length and struck on a radius less than one-half the width of the socket. As shown, this ange is formed by the inwardly-turned edge of a semicircular opening in the front lower edge of the socket, and the detachable slide has a similarly-shaped opening adapted to engage the circular flange when the parts are brought together.

The slide may be ot' sheet metal bent to form a V-shaped spring, to one (preferably the rear) leg of which the loop e is secured, while the other leg has the opening f therein and a finger or thumb portion below the socket roughened or having ornamental projections g, which, being at or above the level ofthe surface of the socket, are more readily pressed upon to disengage the slide, as will be at once understood. A tongue h may occupy the center of the opening f to preserve the neatV and symmetrical appearance of the buckle, and by having a raised center or projection will serve as an extension of the tinger-piece to assist in releasing the slide. The upper portion of the slide is tapered or narrowed to prevent striking the sides of the socket and holding the slide rigidly.

The construction is neat and simple, and, while the advantages of a cast-off buckle of this character is secured, it is without their disadvantages.

The vcircular form of the iange gives it great strength and an extended bearing to IOO members, of the socket having the inwardlycurved semicircular flange at the lower edge and the spring-slide narrowed toward the upper end and having a semicircnlar opening for the reception ot' the flange, the projecting finger-piece, and the loop for the attachment of the co-operating end of the web, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the web-engaging members, of the socket having the semicircular concavity in the lower edge of the inwardly-curved iiange aroundsaid concavity and the spring-slide having a semicircular opening therein for the reception of the flange, the tongue projecting into the said concavity in the socket and having the raised portion thereon,and the finger-piece, substantially as described.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT.

Witnesses: Y

CEAS. B. STANLEY, Il. S. WALTER. 

